B°tong – Monastic (CD Album – Reverse Alignment)
Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, soundscape.
Background/Info: After his activities under the NID moniker Chris Sigdell set up B°tong in 2005. He released an impressive number of productions on different labels and confirmed his prolific work in 2017. He joined hands together with the Swedish label Reverse Alignment and released 2 albums.
Content: “Monastic” is an invitation to embark on a voyage through the dark sonic corridors joined by echoing and humming sound waves. Multiple electronic treatments, nameless noises, metallic sounds and field recordings are joining in.
+ + + : This work is a dark and visual composition sometimes create a paranoiac feeling. It’s quite visual, but having more an impact on the listener’s emotional world. This is a dark-ambient work in the truest sense of the meaning and yet a little bit atypical through the impressive sonic treatments.
– – – : I like the progression running through the cuts, but unfortunately it never totally reaches the apotheosis I was waiting for.
Conclusion: B°tong has accomplished a truly sonic symbiosis between dark-ambient, soundscape and experimental music. Somewhat atypical to be called dark-ambient and pretty accessible for experimental stuff “Monastic” serves as a sonic bridge between different, but related influences.
Best songs: “Core”, “Dor”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.btongmusic.com / www.facebook.com/btongmusic
Label: www.facebook.com/reversealignment
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